It seems the days of the sporty-but-cheap compact car are all but behind us, with the segment replaced by entry-level crossovers and a growing hybrid class. Both of those vehicle segments command a higher MSRP than a cheap runabout, which is likely part of the equation for manufacturers as well. But like the cheap, compact pick-up truck, the loss of the sport compact segment means there are also fewer affordable enthusiast cars to choose from, and it’s amazing to think we’re actually nostalgic about cars like this 1987 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24 listed here on eBay with one bid to $1,000 and the reserve unmet.
When Chevrolet introduced the Cavalier, it also rolled out many shapes and sizes, from sedans to coupes to hatchback bodies. The car was cheap across the board, from its list price to the quality of construction, but standards were different in the middle 80s. At least, given how many economy cars were on the road, standards were universally low. No one was expecting soft touch dash plastics, or fake leatherette-style trim. The cars were meant to be fuel sippers and do a decent job of getting you to work and back again. The Cavalier shown here is a survivor in many ways, but the fact that it survived its years of being someone’s cheap commuter in this sort of condition is rather amazing.
The Z24 package was actually a decent bit of kit, with a ground effects package, alloy wheels, unique upholstery, and a 2.8L V6 with fuel injection. It also came with a special front fascia and digital gauge cluster. Honestly, for the time in which it was made, this is a pretty decent assortment of options to make for a truly sporty model. Sure, it was never going to challenge the MK1 VW GTI or the Celica All-Trac for sport compact supremacy, but if you wanted to add some flavor to your otherwise mundane commuter car, this was an attractive option. The manual transmission heightens the appeal of this Cavalier as well.
Of course, at the end of the day, it’s still a Cavalier. Chevy didn’t throw Bilsteins and beefy sway bars at this car like other manufacturers might, and there’s limited upside to improving it with aftermarket components. As a novelty, this clean Z24 is a home run, made even better by having three pedals. The color combo is perfect, and the condition almost as nice. Mileage is listed as being under 6,000, and the cosmetics seemingly reflect this – but the seller doesn’t come right out and confirm it as accurate. Regardless, a car like this is hard to repeat, and likely the one to buy if you’ve been hankering for a first-gen Cavalier.
I bought a brand new one in 85, first new car. Brand new wife, baby and car! It was red with silver ground effects. A very sporty and quick little ride. I put 90K on it and then the “Tokyo by night” digital dash went caput and it traded it in on a new 89 2 door Accord.
I got married in 1980 and bought my wife a 74 Corvette, and then a new one in 81. In 85 our first child came along and the Corvette was put in the garage and we ordered a new Z24. Her Z24 was black with the gray interior, and a 5 speed (my wife always drove manuals, the Z24 was traded in on a 5 speed 89 Taurus SHO). We looked at an assortment of sporty econoboxes, including the Omni GLH and VW GTI, but found the Z24 to offer the best mix of performance, style, comfort and price. I autocrossed it on weekends and I did quite well with it against similar econoboxes in it’s class. For the 4-5 years and 80K miles we had it the only thing that ever broke was the digital dash, but Chevrolet repaired it under warranty and it worked flawlessly afterwards.
Good write up Lavery. Econoboxes are fun drives w the 5sp.
Nice, And it has the factory anti theft transmission however today I don’t know how you would get the digital dash fixed if it had a issue. Bidding is already over what I think its worth and still hasn’t cracked the reserve its not going to be in my driveway anytime soon.
Worked on many
1987 was the first year for the Getrag 5-speed transmission. Previous V6 Cavaliers were stuck with the odd 4-speed-overdrive-with-no-direct-drive transmission from the 1980 Citation. Compared to today’s cars, they’re slow and clumsy. Back in their day, however, they did get some respect. This could be the nicest one left.
I had an 84 blue type 10 hatch back with a four speed and red pinstripes. It was a looker but by the time my ex got done it was junk. Also I had grey Cavalier sedan with a five speed. Disposable cars but what else had a little style in that price range at the time?
I would think that the Chrysler Laser XT or the Dodge Daytona turbo Z had better looks, and possibly better performance than the Cavy in 87. 8100 with a day to go. Wow.
I must say the digital dash looks very cool – with full instrumentation, but was not a conventional analog dash standard?
I went to the selling Dealer’s website and they have it listed at 29k dollars! So you know that the reserve is quite high on this eBay auction. My guess is that it won’t meet their reserve, which is most likely in the mid 20’s.
It’s 29K on their website. Gateway Classic is known for asking top dollar for their inventory.
Wow! That’s a lot for a Cavalier!
This Cavi has been on the market for a year or more…they have a target price of around $30k. That’s why it’s not moving. Nice,but…
I was in high school when this car was built. I would have been very happy to have had it then, or now. I always thought it was a nice design and a good balance between economy and performance for that time. At that time the 2.8 6 was pretty quick especially in a lighter car like a Cavalier. There cant be too many left in this kind of condition and with the preffered 5 speed in a this nice a condition. That being said, its an awful lot of money to part with for it.
My first car was an 87 2 door with zero options that I partially restored. Found a mint set of these z24 5 spoke wheels in the pennysaver and a z24 hood in a junkyard. The hoods are fiberglass, so the weight savings probably netted another 1/8th of a mile on a tank. Sure.
I’ve only owned Hondas and Toyotas for daily drivers since. Enough said. I wasted a lot of time and energy on that car, which wasn’t worth it. Yet, I’d give anything to go back.
The loss of small cars produced in general is a disaster. Dumb for the car companies (in the long run), dumb for the environment, dumb for peoples wallets, dumb for the whole experience of driving in general. Oh hail to thee oh great SUV, and your close next of kin, the 100K pickup for greater suburbia!
Precisely. It falls into the general dumbing down of everything, the end of normalcy and the loss of people having taste or class. Almost every small car used to have a sporty iteration of it, like this z24. They were fun yet practical and still inexpensive. But hey, I heard the Celica is coming back. I’m sure it’ll be an inexpensive, fuel efficient, fun, sporty car, true to it’s roots. NOT.
And don’t get me started on how every house around me looks like a chincy, fake plastic doll house. With said SUV or truck parked in front of it. *sigh*
Bought a 2000 loaded convertible sunfire gt with low clicks in 2014, was my gf first convertible, drove it for 5 summers and she loved it , no issues with it aside from regular maintenance on an older car , only changed because she wanted a bmw z3 , a 4 seater is now needed to shuttle the grandkids during the summer , so a 95 transam is the new ride
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I thought I would want a Z24 back in 1987. On paper it checked all the right boxes. But then I drove one… At least for me, it didn’t add up to a winning equation. I abandoned Chevrolet and went with Toyota, and later Honda. I have owned many other brands since, but only one Chevrolet (Monte Carlo) which came with the wife. I must have corrupted her because she will never own another Chevrolet again either. IMHO
Smart. You saved yourself a lot of time, energy, money and aggravation. Ironically, the Chevy’s mentioned from back then that we thought were unreliable are a million times better than anything with that badge on it today.
My first new car was a white with red interior 1986 z24 with a four speed, absolutely loved that little car. Sounded snotty as hell, just a great exhaust note. For the first 500 miles it liked to jump out of fourth gear, that was fixed with a minor adjustment at the dealership. Drove it until it was car number six in an 11 car chain reaction accident on the belt parkway. This one would be a fun car to have but they’re asking twice the price.
I’d rather have that blue Caprice coupe in the ads today. Less money, more useful.
I went Chevy dealer in late 1999 with the intent of buying a 2000 Z24. Wanted 2 door and 5spd. They didn’t have one for me to test drive, but salesman asked if I had ever considered a Hyundai Tiburon. (They had dealership next door) I hadn’t, but I’m a big guy and didn’t think I’d fit…he talked me into driving one. More comfortable, better gas mileage, faster and better looking than the Z24, and almost $1000 cheaper! 200,000 miles later I gave it to my son who is still driving it. 3 timing belts and regular oil changes, nothing else.
As a santa fe driver and abuser, i can say their product is pretty solid , i floor this thing regularly and surprise many , v6 and awd , it also handles great and living in canada means that we are in snow season again , one of the rare ones that is not only awd but 4×4 with the push of a button
I’m surprised the salesman didn’t steer towards a Camaro. 2 doors, 6 speed (1 extras gear bonus) and a hellofa lot nicer looking than a Cavalier.
Looking for gas mileage. Was driving from Charlotte to Miami several times a month. Had a couple of Corvettes if I wanted something that would accelerate.
Bought a1987 or 88 for the second xwife and it was a throw away car and had nothing but problems. She babied it and the cheap plastics broke/cracked, door handle falls off, window came off track, exhaust rotted out in 4 years ,belt tensioner failed, new alternator after 3 years… I tried to go with the lemon law but lost…